Photo: Imran Shah from Islamabad, Pakistan / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Rock Thrush
Monticola saxatilis
Common Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) is a member of the Muscicapidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 50.3 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers
- Genus Monticola
- Species saxatilis
Where it lives
Southern Europe to south-central China, also northwestern Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 50.3 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Muscicapidae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Rock Thrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Common Rock Thrush is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Common Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) is a member of the Muscicapidae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL s Europe to sc China, also nw Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 50.3 g, with a wing length of about 12.1 cm and a tail of around 6.2 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Rock Thrush?
The Common Rock Thrush is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 50.3 g.
Where does the Common Rock Thrush live?
The Common Rock Thrush is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL s Europe to sc China, also nw Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Common Rock Thrush belong to?
The Common Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) belongs to the Muscicapidae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Common Rock Thrush eat?
The Common Rock Thrush is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Common Rock Thrush migrate?
The Common Rock Thrush is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Common Rock Thrush endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Rock Thrush make?
1 real field recording of the Common Rock Thrush — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Rock Thrush's range?
The Common Rock Thrush has a mapped global range of about 8.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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